The proposed standard would apply to any "data-enabled" phone, including all smartphones and many high-end feature phones. USB would be used for charging, and the micro USB connector—at the time already becoming a de facto standard on many smartphones—would be used on devices. "On principle, you would never have to buy a new charger again," EC Vice-President Günter Verheugen said. The standards were finalized in December 2010 by ETSI.

The European Commission announced in 2009 that 10 mobile phone producers, including Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Texas Instruments, agreed to adopt a standardized charger in order to minimize the "needless electronic waste" caused by the proliferation and regular updating of mobile phones.

Though some believed that Apple's commitment to the standard would spell the end of its 30-pin Dock connector used on nearly every iPhone, iPad, and iPod, the company was clear that it would not ditch the Dock for micro USB. "As we've said in the past, we are committed to the Apple Dock connector and this initiative will not require us to change it," an Apple spokesperson told Tech Radar at the time.

In fact, the standards actually allow manufacturers that do not already include micro USB ports on devices to comply by offering a suitable adapter. Apple's new iPhone Micro USB Adapter does exactly that. The tiny adapter plugs in to the Dock connector on an iPhone and can then be used with any charger that complies with the EU's mobile charger standard.

Oddly, the adapter only lists compatibility with the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S. We aren't sure why, but it seems likely that it should also work with iPod touches and could maybe even trickle charge iPads in a pinch. The adapter is currently only listed in Apple's UK online Apple Store, but it seems likely it will be available throughout the EU soon. iPhone 4S models that ship in the EU may also come equipped with the adapter and a micro USB cable in the box, though we were not able to confirm that will Apple at press time.

With firewire, serial port, and line out pins either depreciated or even removed entirely you'd think they could just skip the adapter and save some space on the device at the same time. Going forward the only pins still in use will be USB. Although I guess its possible they plan to have something like thunderbolt or whatever on future iphones way down the road.

I'm sure some nitpicky commenters will find at least one thing that is unsatisfactory about this adapter.

snicker. I bet you that this adaptor will cost you $40.00 or so. Is that satisfactorily unsatisfactory?

Further, the point of having a standard connector is so you don't have to get an adapter. Essentially Android device can use any other android device's connector, since they all use micro usb. You still have to carry the adapter around with you...which no one is going to do.

This adaptor is simply amazing. This will be the best adaptor you have ever owned. Try it yourself - using it is an almost magical experience. The sheer design and engineering prowess that went into this adaptor is ovewhelming to even think about, and the visionary leadership this product demonstrates is why Apple will be the top technology company, forever.

This adaptor is simply amazing. This will be the best adaptor you have ever owned. Try it yourself - using it is an almost magical experience. The sheer design and engineering prowess that went into this adaptor is ovewhelming to even think about, and the visionary leadership this product demonstrates is why Apple will be the top technology company, forever.

MicroUSB? Really? I already carry an Apple cable so I would trade that off for an adapter and a microUSB cable that nothing else uses? So turning one thing I have to carry around into two. Yeah. That's brilliant. Already pissed off that Mophie uses stupid microUSB on their "extended" iPhone battery's. The single reason I refuse to buy one. Not about to carry around another 'one time use' cable in my bag of tricks.

With firewire, serial port, and line out pins either depreciated or even removed entirely you'd think they could just skip the adapter and save some space on the device at the same time. Going forward the only pins still in use will be USB. Although I guess its possible they plan to have something like thunderbolt or whatever on future iphones way down the road.

I'm curious as to in what device the line out pins are not enabled. I listen to my iPhone 4s audio via the line outs every day in my car. Has there been an announcement about the 4s not having line out?

Maybe I'm missing something, but doesn't this proprietary adaptor defeat the whole purpose of having standardized chargers in the first place?

That's what I thought. If you have to buy an adapter to charge the device, how is that any different than having to purchase a separate charging cable/adapter?

On an unrelated note, HTC isn't listed as a signatory on this agreement, but they still use micro-USB for all their phones. Thus, every major phone manufacturer across Android-WP7-BlackBerry-Nokia will be using the same connector. And iOS. Sorta.

MicroUSB? Really? I already carry an Apple cable so I would trade that off for an adapter and a microUSB cable that nothing else uses? So turning one thing I have to carry around into two. Yeah. That's brilliant.

Use miniUSB or sod off.

It's not Apple's choice. The EU's legal standards require microUSB, so all phones will be using it.

Well, they're not going to drop the dock connector entirely and abandon compatibility with all the docks people have already purchased, and they're not going to add another port to the device, this makes a decent compromise really.

It eliminates the need to buy a new cable if you've already got micro USB for a different device, but doesn't require it.

With firewire, serial port, and line out pins either depreciated or even removed entirely you'd think they could just skip the adapter and save some space on the device at the same time. Going forward the only pins still in use will be USB. Although I guess its possible they plan to have something like thunderbolt or whatever on future iphones way down the road.

I think the need for adapter runs against the aims of "one charger" initiative.

No, it doesn't. With this adapter, current and previous iPhones can use any charger that conforms to the EU standard.

Ars article wrote:

Oddly, the adapter only lists compatibility with the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S. We aren't sure why, ...

Quote:

Oddly enough, the legal requirement for micro USB chargers is for SMARTPHONES only

Well, the legal requirement is for "data-enabled" phones, so that includes a large majority of recent feature phones, as well. However, iPod touches (and iPods) all charge using USB standards, so it stands to reason they devices could use the adapter with other compatible chargers.

MicroUSB? Really? I already carry an Apple cable so I would trade that off for an adapter and a microUSB cable that nothing else uses? So turning one thing I have to carry around into two. Yeah. That's brilliant.

Use miniUSB or sod off.

It's not Apple's choice. The EU's legal standards require microUSB, so all phones will be using it.

FWIW, it is believed that iPhone 4Ss that ship in the EU will come with this adapter, a standard iPhone wall charger, and a USB-to-miniUSB cable. This will work with syncing the device with a computer as well, though the "cut the cord" capabilities of iOS 5 will largely eliminate the need for that. The device will still be compatible with numerous Dock accessories on the market while still maintaining compliance with the directive.

I'm sure some nitpicky commenters will find at least one thing that is unsatisfactory about this adapter.

You mean, like have to have the adapter with you in order to take advantage of the ubiquitous micro usb chargers out there?

If I had an iPhone, I would just have my iPhone charger with me. This adapter allows me to what, carry an adapter around with me so I can use someone else's charger?

I love that all my smart phones (and my earpieces) use micro usb. I have chargers in my car, my house, etc. I can plug them in anywhere someone has one. I don't have to carry a stupid adapter to get that feature. If I have to carry the adapter, I might as well carry the charger--ok, ok, at least it's pretty small, but it's still annoying.

MicroUSB? Really? I already carry an Apple cable so I would trade that off for an adapter and a microUSB cable that nothing else uses? So turning one thing I have to carry around into two. Yeah. That's brilliant. Already pissed off that Mophie uses stupid microUSB on their "extended" iPhone battery's. The single reason I refuse to buy one. Not about to carry around another 'one time use' cable in my bag of tricks.

Use miniUSB or sod off.

Huh? I thought Android smartphones, at the very least, had pretty much universally switched to MicroUSB anyway (whether prompted by the EU regulation or on their own). I don't recall seeing an Android phone from a major manufacturer with miniUSB since the era of the original MyTouch 3G.

Speaking for myself, I have two tablets, a smartphone and multiple peripherals for same that all use microUSB.

Doesn't the iPad 2 need far than 500mA to charge properly? Or will it still charge, just at a glacial pace? I remember hearing some bitching about that in the early days of iPads and not charging off standard USB ports...

(and considering many wall-wart micro USB do 700mA, 850mA, 1A, or more, I suppose it's not REALLY an issue for many...)

It's obvious that new iPhones will come with this, at least in the EU, and possibly elsewhere.

But Apple's 30 pin connector is far more than USB. Other companies have been trying to get Apple to license this, but wisely, they have refused. I have equipment that plugs into the connector that Android phones will never get, because they just have USB.

For example, an iOS product can be docked with a device, and there are plenty of them for iOS devices, that bypass the D/A converters and analog circuits with much higher quality ones for audio. There is also test equipment, which I have, that needs this connector, and won't work over USB. There is a reason it has 30 pins, rather than 6.

One thing you can say about Apple's dock connector is that it absolutely works as a docking adapter (and not just as a port for a data/charging cable). It's mechanically robust, it carries other things besides power/USB and Apple has been using this connector for long enough that it has become a quasi-standard for many devices you can plug an iPhone or iPod into without a cable dangling around.

USB is fine and nice for what it does, but it is mechanically poorly (cheaply) designed and basically just a serial interface with power lines. Especially Micro-USB is something you really should use with care, the actual connectors and the physical plug are so small that the danger of damaging either plug or socket is not exactly virtual. I totally hate it for devices I have to plug a cable into daily. Apple's connector feels nearly indestructable compared to that.

Anyway, Apple could have won points for having that adapter include Micro-, Mini- and standard USB.

MicroUSB? Really? I already carry an Apple cable so I would trade that off for an adapter and a microUSB cable that nothing else uses? So turning one thing I have to carry around into two. Yeah. That's brilliant. Already pissed off that Mophie uses stupid microUSB on their "extended" iPhone battery's.

So now you'll carry a microUSB cable that nothing else uses except the Mophie battery? And the Kindle, if you use them.

The world's going microUSB. It'll be an awkward transition for the next year or two. Deal with it.